Travel Kwento: BALI
May 4, 2013 § Leave a comment
Travel Kwento: BALI
Travel Date April 13, 2013 – April 16, 2013
Travel Party: Mimma, Didda, Kite, Laya; Sister in Law Leslie with kids Gio & Paulo; Friend Bong with kids Nik & Max – 10 pax (4 grown ups; 3 teenage kids; 2 tweeners & 1 toddler)
Airfare: 50% one way sale P8688/pax
Kunja Villa & Spa: $556/night for a 3 Bedroom Villa (1 room per family kami)
Airport Transfer: P9,100 for both ways
Vacation Type: Luxurious. Pace: Chill.
Additional Note:
I booked Cebu Pac on my own but for the hotel I asked help from Happy Travels for recommendations because I knew the trip will highly depend on the place where we will stay since I know the beach there is nothing compared to Boracay. Choices were:
The Dusun Three bedroom Pool Villa: Usd651/net/villa/night – incl. abf
Karma Jimbaran Three Bedroom Luxury Pool Villa: Usd: Usd 674/net/villa/night – incl.abf
The Kunja Three bedroom Pool Villa: Usd 556/net/villa/night – incl. abf
We chose Kunja for the vast space and for the fact that the rooms are all kinda Masters bedroom-ish: King Size bed on all rooms and all bathroom are spacious. Karma was a second choice simply because the living room is air conditioned. It would be nice to be able to stay and chit chat with everyone in comfort, but the layout wasnt as good and the space wasnt as big too.
Day 1
Our flight to Bali was at 4am so we left house at 1am. So glad Stephen (Happy Travels) called Kunja the day before to find out if we can have early check in. As soon as we arrived the resort, we just filled up the forms at their lobby then we were immediately brought to our villa with a welcome drink of Ginger with Lemongrass (really yummy) and cold towels. We arrive at the villa at 9am and asked reception if we can have breakfast served since our flight on the last day will be too early, they happily obliged and we really appreciate that. While waiting for breakfast, the kids went swimming.
LONG walk from airport to car port
Villa 10
The Breakfast Guy
Cooking our breakky
Waiting for breakfast
Overflowing condiments
Breakfast is ready!
Rightside room, extra bed beside the door leading to the pool/garden.
Bathroom of the rightside bedroom. The bathroom in master’s bedroom is much bigger pa.
Our IT for the day is to just enjoy the villa and go to KuDeTa in Kuta for Sunset. Our plans for the next day is to do a city tour so we spent the afternoon browsing thru tons of brochure we got from the airport. Nap a bit then headed to KuDeta, a bar in front of the Kuta Beach, nice place to chill and watch as surfers enjoy the waves, the kids playing with sands and just enjoying the beach. Too bad it was overcast that day and we werent able to see the sunset, but our kid enjoyed the beach and the waves so it’s ok. Besides the kids are too tired from swimming since some didnt nap so we decided to head back to the villas as it started to drizzle. Upon reaching the villa we ordered dinner thru the hotel’s reception. Kids swam again after dinner.
KuDeTa
Beach View
Playing with the sand
Pictorial by the beach.
Day 2
We do plan to stay in the villa a lot but still we want to see sights and see Bali. So we rented a car that would fit all 10 of us, we got an Elf Van that seats 12 pax for $75 for 9 hours add $10 for a guide. We picked places I see from the brochures and just asked the guide to bring us there. It was really hot and we are all dreaming of the pool so we kinda cut short the trip and headed back. We went to the ff places:
Taman Ayun Temple is a Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village. It is so worth going to, I love how beautiful the temple is.
Taman Ayun Temple is a Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village
Ulun Danu Temple in Lake Beratan. It is atop a mountain so the temperature is cool. Another beautiful temple.
Fruits and handicraft market.
Monkey Temple
Monkey Temple
This is our rented van. Our guide sat at the seat beside the driver. Can seat 12 passengers including the seat of the guide. $75 for 9 hour rent.
Whole Babi Guling ordered via the resort at 800,000 INR or roughly P3,400
Day 3
They left at 8am to go rafting (Siobe & I were stayed at the villa). They came back at around 2pm. Super fun but the walk to the rafts were so tiring and treacherous. Abet & Bong tried white water rafting in CDO and it doesnt compare to this one. This one give you a pause to catch your breath and it is action time again, while the one in CDO has a lot of calm water parts. The kids ranging from 9 years old to 14 years old all enjoyed it and didnt get scared at all. According to them they will definitely do this again should we go back to Bali. Also should research well on which operator to pick. Some are located far so there’s a long long, some have a short rafting route so short rafting time only. There’s too many rafting offers but we chose the one who offered the cheapest price $30/pax inclusive of transfers, rafting, insurance, lunch (lousy one), equipment. The most expensive at $50/pax I wonder if the more expensive ones has the shorter walk/better service.
That night we went to have dinner by the beach at Jimbaran, oh it was far pala (45 mins via taxi at 80,000IDR or P340). The food was awesome. Not cheap but not too expensive since we ordered a lot and we ordered lobster, prawns, crabs, clasm and fish and a lot of young coconut juice. Must try their young coconut juice they squeeze a slice of lime, their clams is also really good, the Barramundi Fish too and the Prawns are really so good. Great end to a great trip!
Day 4
Wake up at 5am leave resort at 5:30am for 8:30am flight.
Our photos at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151878509863662.1073741830.594228661&type=3
NOTES:
There are several places we want to go back too so perfect for a next trip. Along the way we saw the nice boutique and cafes at the Kuta area (very near Seminyak lang where our resort is) next trip we will do a 4 day trip. Day 1 chill then dinner at Jimbaran Beach. Day 2
Culture day go visit the temples and sights. Day 3 rafting and Sunset at Kudeta. Day 4 Chill, Shop, Beach, Boutique and Cafe day.
We totalled all the expenses it’s at P240,000 all in na even the terminal fees and airport taxes. 10 pax (4 adults, 3 teenagers; 2 tweens, 1 toddler)
Tuwa, The Laughing Fish
March 3, 2013 § 3 Comments
Ohh it has been so long since I last blogged but this one I really want to blog talaga.
Tuwa, The Laughing Fish is an ecological village with zero waste, they have a sustainable lifestyle that is ready for any climate change. They plant their food, they harvest their our power, they live a life they way our ancestor did with no waste and full use of what is around them in comfort. They were able to create a balance of life there in their paradise in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. I first learned about their place when Dominic Velasco showed photos of this place a year or two ago. He was proud of what Penny, his ex wife have created (dont you love it when couple are friend after separation? Pwede naman eh, hope others follow suit the friends part not the separation part ha). Then last February another friend who is really into eco living, organic life mentioned there’s a nice place to go to daw, so I googled it and found out it was Penny’s place pala. So I immediately invited some people whom I think would appreciate such and off we went this morning. Oohh I so love the place. I wasnt able to career the pacpipicture because I was busy listening to Penny & John explain what PermaCulture is and also on what they are doing in their place and how they are able to do it. I find their life so rich and full of substance, this is the life I want to have. One day… I will have it!
For now, let me share with you their place and hopefully you get to visit it and experience it and hopefully learn and copy also from them. I feel we all owe it to Mother Earth to do our part in not wasting our resources and in making our life sustainable. I felt like it is such a privilege to be able to visit their place and hear them talk about what they do. They are selling their place so they are not accepting bookings for more than 3 weeks in advance. So do find time to visit their place now before it is sold. Or buy the property from them?
Day Trip is P850 per person; P300 for children below 5 years old & P300 also for driver’s meal. Daytrip includes lunch & merienda and a tour and lesson on how they do thing there and why they do it.
Overnight stay is P1750 yata per person inclusive of full board meals.
Their place may be back to basic but it is definitely not lacking of comfort. It is not luxurious but everything you need is there.
Check out some of the photos I was able to take.
Main House – what a welcome sight. Those duyan is heavenly with a soft wind in the afternoon.
Penny here happily sharing her advocacy/her life/her creation!
Dry Compose Toilet. Every waste is harvested to good use even fecal matters and urine. Nope there is no foul smell at all.
You pour this over the feces and they decomposed etc etc and they change the bin every 3 weeks. The last dump was a few hours before we went and yet no trace of bad smell at all. The urine container will smell if it is almost full which is also a signal to change the container.
Penny will explain to you how to use their Dry Toilet so it is really simple and easy.
Main House. Simple, cozy and fully functional.
We were given this place to rest 🙂
John happily taking about Permaculture and about what they do here in Tuwa.
Penny prepared our lunch. This is called Locavore Cuisine. Food grown within 160 km of its point of purchase or consumption.
Rocket Stove. If you hear them talk about how little resources are needed if used wisely, you will be heartbroken on how much waste we just incur on our day to day life.
I didnt take that much photos because I read a blog where the photos were shot so nicely and explanations are clearer. Please visit the blog of Triple Espresso Shot to know more.
And read also more on the official TUWA website.
Like them too on their Facebook Page.
Please help spread the words.
Happiest Place on Earth
August 7, 2012 § 10 Comments
Our very first family travel to Hong Kong back in 2007 is super memorable to me. I wont even begin to explain or I will lost track on what I wish to write here. Lucky for us because our good friend Ritchie joined us, so we were able to have family pictures.
Masarap din may karelyebo sa rides to amuse Kite.
Ok the point of this post is… ewan ko saan saan na din ako nakarating til I decided I want lang to make my own tips and advices to HK Disneyland. Actually, I initially planned to just blog about the Disney Autograph Book kasi nag ask si Clarice about it then when I replied ang daming interested so kinilig ako. Tamang tama a few days ago Antonette was saying she wish I will go back to blogging (said a delinquent blogger to another).
Ok here goes my HK Disneyland Do Not Miss List:
1. Stay in Disney Hotel
Hollywood Hotel Seaview Room View
Stay at their hotel for at the very least 2 nights. We stayed 1 night on our first trip and it was just hard cramming everything in 1 night. We also stayed for 4 nights and I loved it! We were able to explore and really enjoy Disneyland.
Which hotel to stay. Disney Hollywood Hotel or Disneyland Hotel. Because they are not the same price it is for me hands down Hollywood Hotel because I like the vibe of the hotel and it feels more playful and more friendly and more for kids. (Disclaimer: I haven’t stayed in Disneyland Hotel yet but I’ve been there for breakfast and was able to roam around the area). Price of room is a major swayer Disneyland Hotel’s cheapest room is at HK$2100 while cheapest room in Hollywood Hotel is HK$1550 (HK$1=Php6). Do I wish to try staying at Disneyland Hotel? Hell yeah of course, just to try it too. Photo above is from Hollywood Hotel SeaView Room. I tried Garden View and the view is nothing, the Park View gives you a faraway view of the Park and I guess you can see fireworks during fireworks time (good if you stay in the room at such time, we never do). The only difference of the rooms in Hollywood Hotel is the view the room size and amenities are absolutely same. All rooms comes with 2 Queen Size bed, beds 4 pax comfortably. I have known of families who occupies one room for 6 pax (2 pax on the floor).
Update: June 7, 2013. Last December 2012 we stayed in Disneyland Hotel in a Clubroom Floor, himatay sa price but it is really nice. If I can spare the money I will forever stay na sa Disneyland Hotel, much more luxurious, spacey, homey but expensive. We are going again to HK this December 2013 and we are still deciding if we go Hollywood or Disneyland Hotel. The price is really the dealbreaker.
Also during our Dec 2012 trip we got the Park View room and we got to enjoy the fireworks from our room with a channel in the TV playing what was playing right there in the park. So if you are with a toddler might be a good idea to get a Park View room, Laya was 2 .9 then and she wouldnt sleep in the stroller so we had to cut our DisneyPark trip shop so she can sleep in the room. Not that answers my earlier questions about not being in the room at such time!
My suggested itinerary:
for an overnight stay. Check in as early as you can, if room is not available by 9am just leave your luggage and head over to the Park already, stay in the park til it closes. Go back to hotel and join the bedtime storytelling at the Activity Room then take a swim at their heated pool (pool closes at 10pm) and enjoy finding hidden Mickey’s if your energy can take it. Day 2 start the day with having a Character Breakfast at Disneyland Hotel then head off to the park again till you satisfy your Disney appetite.
for a 2 night stay: check in and enjoy the kids activities they prepared for the day. See what interest you, swim in their heated pool. Then head of to Tung Chung for Citygate Outlets and shop and have your dinner there. Day 2 & 3 follow the IT above.
for a 3 night stay: use the extra day to explore Nyong Ping and more shopping time at Citygate Outlet and swimming time at the pool.
for a 4 night stay: use the extra day to explore HK’s main land sightseeing spots then another day for Ocean Park then either squeeze the 3 night stay to 2 nights or use the 2 night stay IT
here is a sample activity sched for the day (circa 2008)
Hotel Activities (2008 Sched)
Hotel Facilities Info
Enchanted Garden in Disneyland Hotel – a photo with all characters present is rare, we were able to have this coz we arrived for breakfast late and they gave us a chance to have a group picture since there’s not much time for solo shots anymore. A very rare opportunity. They really hate having guest go home unhappy so to make up they organized this for our group. Happiness to the nth level!
Character Breakfast at Plaza Inn – this is no longer offered. Didnt see it among the choices. Plaza Inn is a Chinese Food Buffet Breakfast that’s why they are dressed in Chinese attire, sadly, food utterly not worth it, choices were limited.
I absolutely love having breakfast and seeing the characters come and visit. They make sure they go to ALL tables and have enough time for each guest to have the picture taken solo, with some, with all, to sign autographs and if it is a slow day even for some playful interactions. Please do save for this make sure you do this. Oh if you can hold off telling your kids the characters are coming the joy is even more seeing the kids exclaim that Mickey, Minnie, Pluto or Goofy or whoever just came in the dining room! Oh what a joy.
The absolutely great thing about booking a Character Breakfast in Plaza Inn is you get to enter the park even before the park is open. See this shot? RARE! Nobody in the park except for us. We got in an hour or 2 before the park was open to the public. We didnt loiter around but you will be passing by the whole Main Street as Plaza Inn is at the end just before Sleeping Beauty’s Rotunda. Awesomeness!
3. Check out Maze at Disneyland Hotel
Maze at Disneyland Hotel
If you go to Disneyland whether you are a hotel guest or not, you can take the shuttle that does the round. From Disney Park/MRT station next stop is Disneyland Hotel then next is Hollywood Hotel then back to the Park/MRT station. You can go to the hotel and enjoy the common area. We were able to explore Disneyland Hotel after our breakfast in Enchanted Garden. There is a door from Enchanted Garden leading you outside to the maze area. It is fun to get lost in the maze, not sure if it is easy but definitely not scary (hmm maybe it wold be for a kid who cant see over the hedges?)
4. Swim at the Piano Pool of Hollywood Hotel
Heated Pool
Hollywood Hotel Piano Pool – shaped like a piano and with piano keys design at the bottom of the pool. Other side is the slide pool
One of the hotels activity. Chalk drawing. Great before or after swim activity.
5. Bedtime Storytelling
No big deal really, but most likely you got nothing to do after the park closes so why not. Dont work your sched around this but if it fits then go for it.
6. Autograph Signing
Autograph Books
Hotel Housekeeping did this. So cute!
Tips re autograph book.
1. You may buy an autograph book from any Disney Stores (15 pages) or bring any of your notebook.
2. If buying an autograph book remember to take photos in landscape format. We were aware that we need a photo but it slipped our mind that the photo would be nicer in a landscape format. Try not to copy our mistake.
3. Using a notebook tend to be frustrating kasi most like there will be a lot of pages. Autograph book are just 15 pages and having 15 characters sign is the right amount for a 2 day Park trip.
4. There’s a girlie autograph design and also a boyish design so dont be misled by my photos our kid is girlie so she chose a pink one.
5. The Cast Members and characters are very very tolerant of kids with autograph book, so if you are with 3 kids do not feel embarrassed having 3 books signed, having 3 solo pictures and even sibling photos and family photos. They can take the photos for you using your camera (dslr, point and shoot, cellphone cam, any cam at all) and they are quite quick. They are very very courteous but they also wont tolerate over staying they will gently lead you to leave if you are taking longer than needed.
Hope I didnt miss anything. As for Park Tips? Hmm just go for the ride first before you hit the lines for the autographs. Refer to Park Maps (available upon entrance) to see where the character photo ops are. Don’t forget to eat those Mickey Mouse Head Ice Cream, I love the bitter taste of the sugar in their caramel popcorn, I love the Duck Rice at Comet Cafe across Orbitron but check sched this is not always open. Of course DO NOT miss the parade & the fireworks. Do not ever ever skip PhilHarmagic, next dont miss Buzz AstroBlaster. Golden Mickey is a missable show for me. Lion King is also a missable show for me.
Hope this helped!
Can’t wait to go back to Disneyland!
Update June 2013: Please visit my December 2012 Disneyland Trip. Got more advices there as some debunked my earlier comments here. HK Trip Day 1 | HK Trip Day 2 | HK Trip Day 3 | HK Trip Day 4 | HK Trip Day 5
Travel Kwento: SURIGAO
April 28, 2012 § 6 Comments
Travel Dates: April 11-13, 2013
Travel Companion: Didda, Me, Kite, Laya & Yaya Jhona, Bong and his kids Nik & Max
Backgrounder: I saw Club Tara’s deal on groupon sites na, found it interesting kasi new place, kasi Rhila posted about Jellyfish Lake, kasi si Yaya Jhona taga Surigao. BUT my I stopped myself kasi baka bili bili tapos ma stress lang para gamitin before mag expire. So deadma na. Tapos nag offer ulit sila nung November so tinignan ko ulit, but ignored it again. But nag text si Bong may Surigao Club Tara daw sa groupon site if we wanna go for summer for the kids. Hmmm sige for summer pa naman. Ayun bili na kami both that night. We ignored the coupon since we dont have our summer sched pa naman. Come January I started checking na sa Trip Advisor waaaahhh the feedback on the resort was so bad 😦 But sayang na the coupon P13,000 din ito. So mind conditioning na lang. I started checking na for flight waaah ang mahal ng flights nila P8000/pax 😦 Pag Cebu Pacific naman no direct flight will go to Cebu muna then Cebu to Surigao at P1000-2000 less per head, hay malaki laki din but baka lalo kaming ma bwisit if sobrang pagod sa biyahe tapos kadiri yung lugar etc etc. Oh well we decided to go na lang via PAL. So far this trip is not going so well. Hmm I was disheartened so dilly dally lang ako. Half thinking if sayangin na lang yung P13k but dyahe naman kina Bong. And am guessing Kite should also experience bad resort para di naman siya puro nice places lang, tsaka maski pa how bad the place is for sure enjoy yan kasami naman fam ni Bong eh. Hay ayun matagal tagal bago ko seryosong inayos ulit yung trip. Mga early March na when we booked our flights. Then upon finalizing with Club Tara doon ko lang nalaman na to reach the resort we have to take a bus/rent a van and the trip is 1 and a half hour long! Tapos need to ride banca pa for another 45 mins. Ha? Eh 2 night lang kami doon tapos tanghali yung flight naku ano pa kaya magagawa namin sa place nila. But at the back of my mind, ok na din para short lang stay namin since pangit ng review sa lugar. Eto pa ang nakaka inis. Alam na na super bulok yung resort, pero acting 5 star sila 😦 if we avail daw of their transfer service we have to pay P1500/pax for 2 pax or P1000/pax if 4 pax or more… imagine transfer lang aabutin kami ng P14,000 for our group or P8,000 for my family! Que horror. I asked how much if we do it ourselves and how is it, easy lang daw and around P6,000-P8,000 round trip if we do it ourselves. yikes I hate pa naman being in a place na wala kang alam and have to rely on asking and haggling but no choice ayaw ko magsayang ng extra P5000 one way. I remember transfer sa Boracay grabe sa mahal eh easy easy lang to do it ourselves. We booked the Sohoton Cave Tour with Jellyfish Lake tour via Club Tara at P1000/pax
PS. P13,000 Club Tara CashCashPinoy Deal is for 2 and full board meals na ito. P16,000 for 4 pax. Free for max of 2 kids below 6 yrs old.
Trip Kwento:
Day 1
Ayun with proper conditioning we are set na. Alam na ng buong grupo to expect the worse and just enjoy being in a new place. Ayun our flight suppose to arrive Surigao at 130pm arrived at 2pm. We went to the bus station and found out the bus left na, although I dont plan to take a bus naman talaga it was medyo kaka tense kasi napaisip ako what if wala ding banca sa pier when we arrive, anyway we hired a van to take us there sa pier. Ok naman but nakaka frustrate/hiya ang system natin. May lumapit sa amin and said P1500 for the van so ok kasi if bus at P200 each that’s P1400 na din naman eh. But when the van came P1700 daw well ok na but nakaka inis kasi naiisip ko kakahiya sa mga foreigner ang mga ganito. We arrived the pier after 1.5 hours and was able to get a banca to bring is to the resort at P1500. Yung banca is small, I sat beside Abet and exacto lang kami, so there’s mga 4 rows. The banca is small as in di ka makalipat ng upuan but stable siya, maski may konting alon di scary, wet lang kasi splash ng tubig. I guess di siya maalon kasi di siya open sea talaga yung dulo is set of islands eh.
Anyway the place looks really nice from afar and upon seeing the room with our expectation so low we were satisfied naman. Thank God for TripAdvisor and their reviews.
We stayed lang sa resort that day, kids went to the pool and we chilled lang then after dinner kids used the jacuzzi in the room. We were told our Sohoton Cave & JellyFish Lake Tour is after lunch. Perfect for us who all hates waking up early. This way we can stay up late if we wish and wake up late too.
Day 2
We woke up had breakfast then the waters were begging for kayak, it was too enticing, so the kids went kayaking while Abet & Bong used the paddle surf. Then when kids got tired and went to the pool, the two boys went kayaking to the snorkling area.
We had lunch and then off we went for to the Sohotan Cave & JellyFish Lake Tour. We arrived at the tourism area (around 5 mins by boat fromt he resort) when everyone is obliged to stop and pay fees. I like it that they are very organized, am ok with paying more but the locals get jobs fairly, it does not go to the most agressive instead they all take turns. We found out upon arriving that for the jellyfish lake we are going to each ride one small banca, and they discouraged bringing Laya so Yaya & Laya stayed sa Tourism Hut.
It was breeding or egg season at the Jellyfish Lake (around 5 mins away from the tourism hut) so we are not allowed to swim, bummer but it gave me a bit of satisfaction to know these boatmen are adhering to the rules, I was half expecting them to allow us in exchange for a hefty tip. We saw a lot of eggs swimming. By June daw they will allow swimming na and the jellyfish will number to a million. We did spot a lot of jellyfish but not enough to warrant the name jellyfish lake. Sayang would have love to swim and see it sana but ok na din at least we saw lots naman.
Back to the tourism hut to ride our banca again, our banca is small so we are allowed to use it to go inside Sohotan and need not hire another one, a guide just accompanied us. If I remember correctly fees were P100 each banca to Jellyfish lake then another P500 for the guide who will join our banca to the Sohoton Cave. Sohoton Cave is also a few minutes away form the Tourism Hut. The entrance is low but we need not lower our head to get inside so tide was perfect upon our entrance, I think the tide gets high at late afternoon so entrance and exit is impassable and those inside wont have a way out (except walk for hours?) But the cave is not really a cave, it is like a whole new world inside, the area is vast and open.
We had 2 stops in there, first is the luminous cave, there’s a small opening and there’s a lake inside and when you take pictures the water is luminous. I didnt get to go in coz am a scaredy cat, but when they told me easy lang I wanted to but Laya was crying na so no na lang.
Next was the jump site, to get to the jump site they have to pass thru a cave and etc. The jump was quite high but Abet & Bong did it.
After that back to the Tourism Hut to drop the guide off then back to the resort. The whole tour took 3 hours. It was the highlight of the trip 🙂 The kids had so much fun they want to go back on June when they can swim with the jellyfish. Back at the resort, we were all hungry and tired… but no food available for order. Diba kaloka? The goods are arriving pa lang that afternoon sabay with new guest coming in. Good thing I brought 2 cans of Vienna Sausage (1 left kasi the kids ate 1 na the night before) & a can of luncheon meat. So I fried them sa kitchen nila and ask them to turn the leftover rice from lunch to garlic rice. Well exacto naman for everyone. Rest rest, nap and the kids playing around. Had dinner then chat a bit but was tired na din and we are to wake up early the next day.
Day 3
Breakfast and leave resort by 9am to get to airport before 12nn for our flight. We stayed in Bastie’s a resto outside the airport that
offers meals and cakes and pastries, coffee and free wifi! Perfect place to stay and wait for flight as the PA system of the airport is
connected to their speakers too. We barely had wifi the whole time in the resort so when a 30 min. flight delay was announced it we were not even bothered nor annoyed 🙂
Overall I would say the trip is fun. Our short stay in the resort was perfect as a even a half a day extension would be too much. A shorter stay also wouldnt suffice as our time is exactly right for our stay. Even the sched of the tour was perfect giving us enough time to eat and do some activities without forcing us to wake up early or rushing to beat time.
Would I go back to the resort. Yes because that is the best place in the area for now but I definitely wont go pay their real rate, will
only go with major discount or coupon deals.
Would I go back there? I dont plan to but I just might for the jellyfish lake.
Was it time well spent? Yes.
Was it money well spent? Maybe not but it’s ok.
Photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150997183633662.535291.594228661&type=3
Travel Kwento: BATANES
April 28, 2012 § 2 Comments
Travel Dates: December 30, 2011 – January 4, 2012
Airfare P12,000/pax (includes travel insurance) booked April 1, 2011; Airfare booked Dec 1, 2011 was at P16,755.20
Fundacion Pacita Family Terrace Suite P9,500/night good for 3 pax, we were charged P1200/night for the extra bed. I booked the room Feb 19, 2011 via website and paid 10% around P3500 then the rest paid to their bank account before we went there although we can choose to settle in cash in Batanes, they dont have no credit card facilities but they are expecting it soon.
Prologue: original trip is Dec 31-Jan4 lang kami kaso Seair texted me around Dec 1 to tell us na the flight on Dec 31 is cancelled and we can either go Dec 30 or Jan 1. I felt 3 days might be bitin so I opted for 5 days. Looking back mas ok sana yung 3 days kaso it would definitely leave me feeling bilin and rushed. Our 5 days there was really long, the last day talagang wala na kaming ginawa. And becuase we have such a long stay na usisa namin ang mga kwarto, naka pag bike kami sa city and etc etc sa akin ok ako sa long stay namin but I know Kite & Didda was bored na nung last day. But good na din kasi now we dont have an urge to go back parang na-namnam na namin siya ng husto.
Tour choices from Fundacion Pacita:
Whole day Batan Island Tour P2100/pax if 4 pax – lunch included
Half Day Northern Tour P1,790/pax if 4 pax – lunch included
Half Day Southern Tour P2,000/pax if 4 pax – lunch included
Sabtang Tour P2,350/pax if 4 pax – lunch included
I also found out we can rent a car at P350/hour (yung rent a car nila pala with driver di pwedeng we drive around) or P3000 for the whole day then if we want a guide too that’s P1000. I asked lang eh mas mura if we get the car and the guide and ask the guide to do the North or South tour with us. So ayun ang ginawa namin. I requested for Roger kasi yun yung isa nirecommend sa akin sa FB. Pag dating sa FP I was asked which Roger kasi 2 daw Roger nila waaah. I just googled and hope the Roger I will google is the right Roger.
*turns out he is not the Roger Ivan of Old Manila Walks was refering to, yung Roger daw is in his 30’s or 40’s fyi.
Travel Diary:
Day 1 (Dec 30) flight was 5:15am, we didnt sleep na kasi we left the house mga 2:30am and to be sure we are in the airport by 3am, kaso our car broke down, new car siya more than 1 year old lang and it broke down so the pessimist in me was asking hmm sign ba ito? well syempre inasikaso muna everything and we were able to leave mga 3am na, dahil madaling araw we got to the airport by 330am, flight was delayed mga 6am na nakaalis. We arrived Basco around 7:30am na. Grabe ang lamig!!! I have been monitoring the weather via yahoo and it says 22-24 degrees and ang Manila daw is 28-29 so I didnt think it was THAT COLD! hay naku naku naku I kept visiting blogs and nakikita ko shorts and tank tops mga suot, then Abie’s blog said she is not prone to sweat but her dormant glands came alive (yes I know different season but basta yun nga. We went to Baguio mid December and it was less than 20degrees yet ok lang kami so di ako nagdala ng jackets namin! (Yes I know I know, lesson learned na…) Anyway, ok naman mga damit namin kasi I can layer BUT the worrier in me was stressing kasi nga walang jacket. I hate it kasi I prepared and researched.
Well after airport we proceeded to Fundacion Pacita na and was told the rooms are being prepared pa kasi kakaalis lang ng mga guests so have breakfast muna. The breakfast was yummy 🙂 Shortly ready na ang room. I also learned pwede mag pa cargo ng gamit via seair so I scrambled to call the house to prepare the jackets etc para mapadala but yun nga walang flight the next day so our jackets arrive Jan 1. (Malamig lang sa Batanes nung Dec 30, 31, nung Jan 1 di na gaanong malamig grrr, nung Jan 2 & 3 in fact maaraw pa!) I also took the waiting time to find out about tours and booked a tour guide and a car for the next day.
Ok after breakfast we slept lang sa room. Nagising kami 3pm na, had lunch then marvelled at the place lang, picture dito picture doon. Our lunch was super yummy! Bistek na ma garlic and ang sarap at P350 na good for 2 na; then rice is at P30 each and then P120 yung pako salad with yummy vinagrette. Total bill for lunch was P970. Not bad.
Ang siste sa FP, they will ask you lang to choose among the menu for the day ano gusto mong ulam usually it’s 2 dishes lang to choose from.
Yung breakfast set meal yun and kasama sa room cost so walang pili pili dyan. Ang breakfast nila if you are ordering is P350/pax. Mas mahal pa kesa sa lunch.
We asked din ano ang New Years Eve festivities ng place, di pa daw alam ang plans kasi lahat ng supplies and paputok is nasa barko pa, it left Manila and dapat daw by Dec 24 nasa Batanes na kaso yung last leg ng barko eh di makatuloy tuloy dahil sa lakas ng alon, the fruits on board nga daw are pabulok na. The supplies in the barko is not just for FP but the whole town, mga tindahan daw wala na halos benta and their bigas are really low na sa supply. According to Sec Abad they flew in rice na that day for the town.
Day 2 (Dec 31)
Northern Batan Tour (I chose Northern muna kasi mas malamig yung Southern and wanna wait for our jackets muna).
Our tour was supposed to start at 9am so gising and eat breakfast at 8am, ready na kami by 9am waah the tour guide wasnt there. By 9:30 di na kami natutuwa so Didda said let’s wait na lang sa room tamang tama si Laya want milk na, so we went sa room, shortly after he arrived na, we said wait a bit kasi tulog si Laya. Well off we went sa tour, he apologized kasi daw he was hesitating kasi mukhang uulan, actually sa city daw raining na so sayang lang yung tour if raining etc. Then he proceeded with his tour and kwento about the place, wow impressed kami kasi he is really good and knowledgeable about the place, political leader siya so madaming alam about the city talaga.
We went to Radar Station, Ijang (mga fortress na bato lang no big deal but it was along the way and took maybe an additional few minutes lang so no sweat; Boulder Bay; Rolling Hills (I super love this place!) then nag mamadali na yung tour guide namin bumalik kasi mukhang malakas daw ang ulan so we didnt go na to the lighthouse, we went straight to eat na at Batanes Seaside Resort, dahil Dec 31 wala nang ibang bukas we ate there and the food was blah! pancit bihon and lumpiang shanghai na made of fish and soup na parang tinola na mas maalat ng konti and it was P250 per person! eh yung food namin sa Fundacion na ang sarap na eh sa Fundacion pa was P970, itong sa Batanes Seaside na walang ambiance tapos di masarap eh P1000 grrr at this point I was thinking ulit ok ba yung guide or are we in for a ride… baka maling Roger yung nakuha namin?
Pagasa Station
Boulder Bay
Rolling Hills
Anyway the tour was roughly 3 hours lang including our lunch na mga 45 mins so parang yikes ang bitin yata and ang daming kulang based dun sa IT ng North Tour ng FP. But when I asked him if we settled with FP or sa kanya he said direct na lang daw, and dun he didnt charge us day rate for the rental ng car instead per hour lang and he charge P1000 for himself so total namin was P2050, ahh bumalik ulit tiwala ko kasi I was ready to pay P4000 na. Madami kaming mga di napuntahan itong day na ito like the Mt Carmel Church and the Lighthouse in Basco.
Secretary Abad's Garden - pang movie!
Upon arriving sa FP we were told we are invited da by Sec Abad for New Year’s Eve daw, just go to his house (within the FP complex naman) at 10pm, have food daw. We went naman kaso di naman mahilig makichika sila Didda & Kite, tapos Laya was sleeping na so we just dropped by I was really secretly hoping si Pnoy was there as visitor eh, nagpa picture lang ako with Sec . Abad and Patsy (yung girl sa P200 bill) then shortly after eating Didda & Kite went ahead na to the room, ako chumika pa ng konti. Sarap ng Ivatan Adobo 🙂 And super nicey ng pamilya Abad, so nice and accomodating. Tsaka parang fellowship night siya since other hotel guest were there too. I wuld love to stay if only its not 12 midnight.
**I saw sa bill ng isang guest sa office (tambay kami sa office kasi doon ang wifi, yung 3G namin sumpungin eh minsanok minsan mahina) Coconut Crab so pwede pala umorder doon but feeling ko mahal sa sa town na lang ako kakain.
Day 3 (Jan 1)
Tour of Southern Parts. Dahil nga laging nag dri-drizzle I opted to schedule the tour agad, dapat kasi rest day then tour day after kaso naisip ko what if umulan tapos di pa kami maka tour so pina sched ko na itong tour maski alam ko baka late kami magising dahil nga new Year’s Eve the night before. We just started the tour at 11am. Ito the tour was 6hours long. We went to lots of places. Super notable are the view deck na may mahabang stairs, yung Marlboro Country, and the whole place actually. Ang sarap ng lamig. Although umaambon ambon and paminsan minsan lumalakas ang ulan, sinuwerte kami kasi everytime we reaches a place it stops raining so drizzle lang or sandali lang humihina na. Aside from di kami nakapunta dun sa lighthouse sa South part walang nasira or nagulo sa sched namin because of the rain. Yun lang I worried lang baka magkasakit si Laya. So may mga places na pinuntahan kami na di ko na si Laya pinapababa ng car. Also the car Kuya Roger brought this day was a rickety old FX. We arrived back sa FP mga 6pm na kasi we started the tour at 11am, also we went to the places na di namin napuntahan the first day like Lighthouse & Mt Carmel kaya din siguro humaba ang tour. I asked Kuya Roger to find saan makakain ng Coconut Crab kaso wala, most places kasi were close pa tsaka hibernate time daw ng crabs.
Marlboro Country - can't get enough of it
When we reached FP nag ask ako if may Coconut Crab nyeks ubos na daw kasi reserved na, ayun maski mahal sabi ko the next day hanapan nila ako.
Day 4 (Jan 2)
We relaxed lang itong day kasi we were able to go to all places na eh. On our own lang kami so mga after lunch nag tricycle kami ni Didda to Basco and went places, we checked out the other resorts para in case the Vespa Club wants to come eh naka occular na kami ng rooms. Then we went biking around the place. Cost: tricycle fetched us from FP then we went to Pension Ivatan (may bakery kaso maguumpisa pa lang magluto ng bread), Casa Napoli (closed), then Post Office (dyan daw pinanganak si Pacita Abad) Tricycle cost was I think P160 (may computations sila for ilang stops, ilan yung distance and also ilan minutes waiting time sa stops). We then walked around merienda sa SDC Canteen then we rented bikes na P25/hour each bike. Sakit na pwet namin tsaka legs kasi may mga uphills tapos 1 hour lang pala yun. Then while biking may naamoy kaming baked bread smell so takam na takam kami so mega bike to look for bakery kaso wala, sa SDC lang yata but the bread we ate there was not what we were looking for. Ayun we went back to Pension Ivatan kasi nga by then dapat baked na mga bread nila, ayun dun namin na realize na ang tricycle sa Batanes eh tinatawagan pala, so we called FP to ask a tricycle to pick us up. Initially kasi ang plan was tricycle bring us to town then pasundo na lang kasi sa FP pabalik, but since we wanted pa to go to Pension Ivatan’s bakery we figured tricycle muna tapos doon na kami sunduin ng FP. But after buying bread ayaw na namin maghintay so pahatid kami again sa tricycle to FP this time tricycle cost was P130. Pag dating namin sa FP tamang tama papunta na si Kite & Laya & Yaya to the office so ayun pinasakay muna si Laya sa tricyle ikot ikot.
Dinner namin was Coconut Crab. Buti na lang nagbilin ako kasi hirap din silang makahanap ng crabs but they were able to find for us. It is yummy kasi ANG DAMI DAMING aligue nung crab, but ang luto nila was parang they steamed it lang eh. Mas yummy pa din for me ang Shanghai Crabs… drool!
Coconut Crab. If you want to eat this you gotta go there, it is not allowed to be brought out of Batanes.
Day 5 (Jan 3)
Last day na namin but wala na kaming maisip anong gagawin, Sabtang is not an option kasi di ako papayag isama sila, mag worry naman ako about the kids if iiwan namin sila ng ganyan katagal and walang 100% assurance makabalik kami kasi may chances ma strand if pangit talaga ang alon. So wala kaming plano for the day. So we explored FP further, may access kasi ang FP na papunta sa beach nabasa ko sa blog, so ayun ang ginawa namin, josme ang haba haba so mga 3/4 or maybe halfway ayaw ko na kasi ok lang yung pababa but I can imagine if we went all the way down anong hirap yung all the way back up. It was really nice yung stairs so ok na ok na ako maski di kami bumaba sa beach. After that may time pa so inaya ko si Kite & Didda to go to the rolling hills again since nagmamadali kami when we first went, eh ayaw nila so me, Laya & yaya na lang. Hay grabe ang ganda talaga nung place. Yun nga lang di maganda picture ko kasi si yaya nag picture :(. Tricycle lang din kami again. Round trip cost us mga P260 yata including waiting for us for mga 30 mins while we picture picture there.
Back to room, pack na ng gamit. Then relax and settle na ng bill.
Day 6 (Jan 4)
Woke up yaya had breakfast sa resort kaloka P350 yung congee na kinain niya, kami hindi na kami kumain kasi wala na yung free breakfast kasi we ate breakfast upon arrival, we went straight na to airport. Dun sa airport since tapat ng airport yung Pension Ivatan dun kami kumain, we ordered a several Ivatan dishes to try out.
Please check out pictures at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150683317563662.494530.594228661&type=1
May mga captions na din mga pictures.
The end 🙂
Super duper thanks to Roslyn for answering my never ending last minute questions; to Jade for her trip with Summer and Winter ayun kaya ako biglang nag decide kaya namin; Abie for her pictures and kwento (ayy sandali di yata ako dapat mag thank you dahil sa iyo Abie shorts dala ko! hahaha joke lang) and Peachy Juban too for her files on Batanes.
Hanggang sa susunod na lakbay 🙂
WhoRidesAVespa? ME!
February 6, 2012 § 4 Comments
Wow I actually had a hard time logging in and starting this post as I dont even remember what my password was na 🙂 hehehe.
One thing I learned is I salute those who regularly blogs. Either I am tamad, too busy, unorganized or spends way too much time in FB kaya I really have a hard time blogging. There’s so much I want to blog na done na ioorganize ko na lang kaso… sometimes I feel guilty kasi when I start to blog I want to be able to finish it and when Laya cries or seeks my attention na I feel either bitin/inis kasi I wanna finish or guilty kasi I wanna spend time with her. So ayun unti unti until nag stop na ako… may isang time nakalimutan ko nga na may blog pala ako hahaha. Once in a while it creeps on me and urging me to blog this and that… hopefully one time I get my groove back and blog again.
For now I am back kasi I wanted to tell my Vespa Ride Adventure. I did it via photo blog thru the my FB Album but I figured there’s still so much I wanna say, so here I am.
Ok I have always been asked by so many friends why I am ok with Didda Abet riding his Vespa. Well, I really dont think he’d be unsafe sa Vespa, kasi he is not a fast driver or a speed demon, hehe tumatanda na siya eh, so kampante ako (except during long rides in the early years). Besides, when I met him during college he was riding a motorcycle na talaga, so di naman foreign sa akin ang pag momotor niya. Tapos Vespa pa is so nice and well actually what really made be believe it is the right time for him to buy one was when he said he will buy a Vespa so he can bring Kite to school… awww swooon what a great dad diba? *rolleyes* Hinatid niya nung first day sa school, and that was the last time na din. Ang traffic daw, nauusukan lang sila kasi halos standstill ang traffic, mahirap daw kasi ang laki ng bag… methink it is simply because it is not fun to wake up in the morning IF you have to do a chore. Oh well!
Josh at 7 years old
It turned out his Vespa was a hit with all the nieces and nephews. They would want to take turns (as in turns ha, paulit ulit) around the area. Sometimes when we go home and before we go up to the unit, sila ni Kite mag one round in the area pa bago sila aakyat ng bahay. Well those were the days. Ang dami din naging changes sa buhay namin dahil sa Vespa, nagkaroon siya ng ibang world, nag oout of town siya for days with his Vespa friends, nag camping pa nga sila ni Kite with the VespaClub eh (I like it kasi I get ‘me’ time when he is aways), naging part na din ng life namin ang Vespa Club (hehe feeling ko honorary member ako, nangengealam ako madalas, hanap ako ng gagawa ng patches, ng membership cards etc etc well it’s because Abet was the club president din kasi and after his term I got to know din all the other presidents and officers and member – dapat magpakilala para mahiya naman siya sa akin if they do hanky panky with Abet *may laman haha*), may wall of Vespas na din kami sa bahay at puro Vespa na din ang naging pasalubong sa kanya etc etc.
Me and his Vespa? Once lang ako naka sakay nung bago pa yung Vespa. Naku po from our house to Greenhills Promenade lang kaso am so praning! I was just using a small shoulder bag but ang feeling bawat tatabi na naka motor or mga vendor or any pedestrian eh ang bilis lang nila hablutin yung bag ko, more than the bag it was the experience and the trauma with it that I do not want to encounter. Tsaka ayaw ko yung naalog pwet ko 😦 Hmmph dinibdib yata ni Didda yung angal ko kasi never na niya ako ulit inayang umangkas. Hehehe until yesterday, I had plans na today to meet with a friend for merienda and shop around sa Mega sana, but was told na mag UP daw kami to meet Cox (his Vespa friend na painter who did a drawing of our fam, super thanks Cox!)
I had long wanted a painting/drawing of us na talagang commissioned. I love anything and everything personalized talaga. The only thing we have na drawing/artwork of us was one done by our good friend Mike Fua for our wedding He did the 6 in our 1026 logo the nekid couple forming the number 6. Aww too bad we dont have a hard copy… hmm will ask Mike nga if he could do it for us.)
Anyway, yung nga we will go to UP daw to eat isaw and meet Cox there and mag Vespa daw kami! Ack! Ako takang taka why, biglaan, di naman namin yan napagusapan earlier, di ko maconnect why naisip niya but sige mukhang may possibility naman yung trip maging enjoy kasi nabasa ko yung experience nila Bimbo & Des nung nag Pranjetto sila eh, sige nga ma try nga besides the drawing is something to look forward to and so is the ice cream there, di ako looking forward sa isaw kasi lie low ako sa death-food dahil paalis kami sa tuesday and I dont want any possible problem besides I was devouring super yummy chicharon the past few days na, the guilt is enough. Off we go to the adventure, and let me share them with you…
trying to capture us in our 'ride'
still trying to capture us
here's what a pillion rider sees
enjoy! will do this again 🙂
The rest of the photos are in my WhoRidesAVespa FB Album.
What I learned in this trip:
1. It is dangerous but enjoyable – ride only with people you trust completely. I understand how easily an accident can happen. Pray and enjoy life! Whether or not you ride on two wheels! Life is precious.
2. The wind is really strong and stings the eye (moreso if you dont wear glasses) so those helmet with shield is really necessary unless like me you just hide behind the rider 🙂
3. You get a different perspective of the road. I notice the view more (Katipunan Area with Antipolo view), I notice the weather (nice nice weather at 430pm, my fave time of the day), you appreciate life (I felt happy as we cruise along Katipunan with the sun out but not stinging our skin, with the wind cool yet not cold, with the trees shading us etc etc) and you smell everything too, gas smell – I like; tambucho – I hate!
4. Nakaka takot pag bigla andar yung jerk lalo na if di ka ready, kaya dapat hawak ka at all times. And yung stop lights with countdown ayy super love yan.
5. Di ka pwedeng mamili bigla, bago ka bibili iisipin mo muna saan siya ilalagay!
6. It is fun to do be open to new experience.
7. It is always fun to have couple time <3.
Till the next joyride!
PS. As I was tagging Cox in the photo I googled him… whoah! Here are some articles on him that I really liked 🙂
Daniel Coquilla’s Art of Street Culture
by: Christiane L. de la Paz
Dansoy Coquilla and the View (from) Above
View his multiply site and some of his work and more about him.
Thanks again Cox! We are honored to be drawn 🙂
UPDATE:
Got the painted one na from Cox 🙂
Lego Pilipinas! Woohoo
August 16, 2011 § 2 Comments
When we were in Australia, we were amazed when we saw this…
at the Sydney Aquarium
at Sydney Wildlife World
And just today I got this in my inbox… ooohhh am really excited I hope they are drool-worthy! Theirs are pretty but ours are personalized kasi Philippine Landmarks and mga gagawin eh. Please please please be really nice!!! Can’t wait to see it.
Am so happy Lego is doing it in the Philippines too!
Mama’s Table by Chef Vicky Tinio Clemente
July 28, 2011 § 1 Comment
I love eating out, food should be good, it would be such a pleasure if place is stunning or cozy, but I think what makes a meal memorable is the company. I have lots of memorable meals but this one I want to do again.
I first read about Chef Vicky from Heart-2-Heart‘s blog last January (she blogged about the place again recently here) and after reading I really really wanted to go. Lucky for me, my closest friends were on a road trip bug so off to Baguio we went one February weekend. Oh we were really excited for that meal!
It’s an 8 course meal at Chef Vicky’s home in Baguio. We wanted to have it Saturday dinner but she was already booked as she only accepts one group per meal. So no choice but to have our meal on Sunday lunch before we head back to Manila meaning no wine for us. Her place is roughly 10-15 minute away from Manor in Camp John Hay, roads are in good condition too. As you enter her home you will notice the big living room/dining room space with a big window for the wonderful view of the mountain and of their garden. Oh my I wish I have access to such a house. The weather was perfect so we loitered around the place before starting on our meal. The meal was such a great experience. Quite pricey at roughly P1500/pax but it was such a memorable one that the amount is so worth it.
We started our meal at 1230 and mid way we told Chef Vicky to quicken the pace as we will still head back to Manila, we finished around 330pm, if only we are not heading back we would have lingered on pa. Such precious memories of great times with good friends. These are friends I have been with since grade school and high school. Knew them quarter of my life now. Love them too!
Am not a food blogger so please head to Leslie‘s blog instead for a blow by blow account and lovely description of the food accompanied by great photos. Our meal was like theirs except for the soup, ours was mushroom cappuccino.
I am itching to go back to another meal at Chef Vicky’s place. When kaya?
Chef Vicky
074.4421794
0915.6438775
Travel Kwento: El Nido Palawan
July 16, 2011 § 3 Comments
Oh I love traveling so much, as much as eating (and that’s saying a lot) 🙂 Since we are off to a trip to Los Banos am quite in a vacation mood now.
This is a repost from my traveling kwento in N@W. This is the latest trip we took with our travel buddies Kuya Fol, Leslie and their kids Gio & Paulo. We’ve traveled quite often with them, we’ve been to Kota Kinabalu, Bellarocca, Ilocos, Banawe and Baler, we travel well together since our firstborn are of similar age and are too similar in taste and preference. Here’s hoping for more travel with them. Bohol, Amanpulo, Europe, Egypt, Turkey and USA.
We took the Deal Grocer Promo P15k per person for 2N stay in El Nido Lagen (Seafront Rooms) ohh I love the room so much!
This is our second time in El Nido Resorts but the first time kasi we stayed for 2 nights tapos return flight namin was lunchtime so we barely had time and felt so rushed and so unrelaxed kasi nga parang gusto kong sulitin yung bayad so ratrat sa activities. Kaya this time we took an extra night para may chillax time naman and besides we have a baby with us too so we had to put that into consideration.
Since the Deal Grocer deal was just 2 nights we booked an extra night at Miniloc so sila kuya would experience both resorts (also mas mura sa Miniloc din kasi)
more info re the rates: yung Deal Grocer deal namin no activities included so if we want to go anywhere even to Miniloc lang we have to pay P1000/person, si Laya lang free so anywhere we go P7000 agad yun, included sa deal grocer was a 1hr massage & daily buffet breakfast for 2 pax. Yung Miniloc naman namin no breakfast but activities are free.
back story muna: Lagen when we went there last 2007 hmm iba yung feeling parang cold and isolated at parang walang life; whereas Miniloc where we stayed last time is so comfy and full of life so medyo cold ako sa idea to go Lagen kaso sila Leslie nag-aya, and it is always fun to be with their family, also I know when we come back from Oz Laya’s yaya wont be back pa so this trip will make taking care of Laya a lot easier. Iba ang taking care of Laya out of town/country compared to just being home, super iba!
We fitted our travel date to their flight sched. We took the date where we can get the earliest flight out and latest flight back.
May 29 730am flight – we needed to be in ITI (El Nido’s chartered plane’s hangar) at 630 so talagang aga nito. We got to El Nido resort by 1030am, rooms arent ready yet so we were asked if we want to stay or go Miniloc for lunch and stay there till 1pm then transfer to Lagen when our rooms are ready na (free na yung trip if ever we choose this) or go Lagen and have lunch and wait there for the rooms to be ready. We took Miniloc. Lunch either ala carte or buffet. Ala carte are reasonable and food is yummy; buffet is P1000/pax for adults and P650/child. Ala carte food like adobo is at P350; cheeseburger at P400; red curry pork P350 yata or P400 yummy ito. We took buffet for the kids kasi natatakam sila then a bit na lang idagdag from ala carte. Some of the adult took ala carte some took buffet. Mga nag ala carte nagnanakaw na lang sa food ng mga nag buffet hehehe. After lunch and before lunch the kids played in the beach and sand area. Kami chillax lang sa eating area kasi overlooking the beach part and sarap ng hangin etc. Also it was drizzling a bit bec of Chedeng and have been raining daw the past 5 days wahhh
After lunch we moved to Lagen and went straight to nap hahaha ang aga kasi ng gising, the bigger kids full of energy nag swimming na. We met up around 6pm for dinner. Again some took buffet some took ala carte, menu in Lagen is exactly same as in Miniloc.
Wala relax lang sa room after dinner, sila Kuya nag drinks pa sa bar, the kids all stayed and played in our room lang.
view ng room
interior ng room
Day 2: we had the beach lunch and island tour. 2 activities ito but they charge us once na lang for the banca (although we paid buffet price for the lunch). Super ok yung Dibuluan Beach Club (except if you like to swim kasi biglang lalim sa beach, since di kmi nagswim nag wade wade and sand sand lang ok na ok ito) kasi may cabana sila na super sarap tambayan see the pic
this is what we paid for
hay super luxury talaga tapos ang sarap pa ng hangin and this place is really nice kasi may sand bar pa na mahaba talaga sarap din mag kayak tapos may clean cr where you can wash and shower.
sand bar
see how long yung sand bar? kuya is just half way here taking our pictures
The island tour is no big deal we were suppose to go to 2 caves then to snake island (a sand bar) nyeks eh nicer pa yung sand bar sa Dibuluan tapos yung cave hohum lang kasi sa labas ka lang pakita lang. Ok na din para maka balik na agad sa resort to swim sa pool and chill. We skipped the other cave kasi may shooting daw, we can take it the next day na lang daw sa umaga… no thanks rather sleep. We just saw Cathedral Cave and what you see in the picture is what we saw din lang, daan lang tapos tinapat yung banca then picture picture that’s it na.
Cathedral Cave
Back to Lagen nag swimming na lang and ordered food sa poolside. Enjoy yung pool kasi di salt water kaso nadapa ako while carrying Laya. Sa sobra kong protect na she wont get hurt mas grabe yung impact sa akin, I scrapped my knees na kita na yung white and bleed ng bleed. Ouch tignan but I kept waiting for the super pain to arrive wala naman, di grabe yung pain so ok na din, and na-imagine ko buti di si Kite she is so squeamish and also just glad nothing happened to Laya. Yun nga lang bad trip kasi how will I swim na. Oh well, just happy the 2 kids are ok and it could have happened na Kite is the one carrying Laya then nadulas diyos ko I can’t imagine anong mangyari either grabe ang injury nila or possible ma drown sila kasi poolside ako na slip or inis kami kay Kite for not being careful… ah basta was just cringing when I remember what happened then thankful the next second.
pool picture
papasan floater
super love this Papasan floater (the one Kite is using, super chillax yan, will buy one more kasi nag aagawan kami diyan) saw this sa facebook, asked for discount and he gave me 30% off, so I got them at P1200 yata
Day 3: move to Miniloc Day. So free na activities namin today. We had the beach lunch at Entalula beach club. Nice yung beach kasi mababaw maski malayo na. Yun nga lang walang cabana na sing ganda ng Dibuluan, yung cabana namin walang ka hangin hangin imagine the init! hay naku di happy. Buti na lang maganda yung beach. The place is bigger or maybe dahil madami ding tao yung cabana namin medyo malayo so kakatamad to go, even to hingi water or cr or do anything, add pa na may sugat ako. But the beach is nice kasi sand is white and fine and wala masyadong corals or bato so kids can play talaga.
Entalula
After Entalula we go na to Miniloc ready na room namin, the Lagen people brought our luggages na din there. This is our chill day. We had drinks sa beach side and just enjoyed the place. We saw na yung room namin maganda yung labas, sarap tambayan
Miniloc Seaview Room facade
Interior of the room
2nd floor
view of our room
Seaview Rooms (those on the right are for 2 pax; the ones on the left are with 2nd floor good for 4 pax)
We had room service for dinner. Same price as ala carte if mas mahal man minimal lang kasi di ko napansin. Kids meal pala nila na ala carte is P200 lang.
Last day:
They all went to Big & Small Lagoon (except me, didda & Laya) so 730 am alis na sila. Kami ni Laya nag watch ng fish feeding sa pier ng Miniloc ang lalaki ng jackfish (talakitok) they really jump to eat the squid na pinapakain sa kanila, madami ding ibang fishes pa may mga clown fish and yung striped fishes kaya nice mag snorkle.
The group came back at 10am nag snorkle sila sa pier ng Miniloc again. They enjoyed the small & big lagoon ganda daw I have yet to see the pics pa. Nag kayak sila and nag snorkle din doon. Super luxury snorkle kasi the guide just pull them using a buoy. All they need to do is hold on and look down and enjoy. Pati camera na underwater hawak nung guide to picture them.
After snorkle kami nag pack na ng gamit kasi we need to check out one room and they are giving us the other roo for late check out. Good enough for us kasi we want to bathe after our private lunch.
We scheduled a private beach picnic, kami lang dun sa island and balikan na lang nila kami. We did this sa 2007 trip namin and feel na feel namin kaya we want to do it again.
Our private island food pre ordered the night before
An island all to ourselves
naka set up na lunch namin
picture picture
iniwan kami doon and was asked what time kami pasundo so we said balikan kami at 1230 kasi check out namin 2pm.
Back to the room to ligo, change, chill till check out and departure time.
Back to reality na.
Hope this helped.
I was asked na by quite a number of friend if ano nicer Lagen or Miniloc. My answer is if maliit lang ang difference ngprice go to Lagen na; if malaki ang difference mag Miniloc na lang.
Also if active kayo tipong nag snorkle and kayak then Miniloc is better; if relax type kayo pa swim swim ang kain kain sa poolside and wanna feel luxurious then Lagen dapat.
TIPS: bring your own coke, and lotsa snacks and food para less kainin doon. Pwede maging dishonest sa age ng bata. One of our kid is mahina kumain he’d go sa buffet pag usually konti lang kinakainniya sa we’d tell the server to waive his buffet na lang since konti lang and they ALWAYS agree naman. Also they are payag din na all adults take ala carte and kids lang mag buffet. Also maski di ako nag buffet at nakikikuha ako kay Kite ok lang sa kanila. Also nangunguha kami ng fruits sa buffet to eat sa room. Shameful confession, we even make cheeseburger then balot it to eat sa room hehehe.
If you wish to go to El Nido log in and join their mailing list then ask them to include you if may promo sa rates. That is how we got our rate last trip namin. All in ang food and activities pero kinda short notice. Like we got the email September the October na yung promo.
Hmm this is all I remember.
Hay love love to travel 🙂
Pranjetto
July 4, 2011 § 9 Comments
I dont remember husband Abet telling me about Pranjetto before but I heard him say he wanted to bring us there on Pinoy Scooter Podcast so it was one of those we-will-do-that-one-of-these-day-thing. That day came this morning. Backgrounder. Pranjetto Hills is a place in Tanay Rizal where they usually ride, it is sort of like a Baguio-in-Manila place view of the mountain range (Sierra Madre) then cool weather, as he’d say ‘di mo maiisip ang lapit mo lang sa Manila’ I was sold on the view and the weather. This is also usually where new rides try out rides before going on a longer trip.
On with my kwento: we had a jampacked Saturday so it was easy to sleep early Saturday night. We left for Rizal at 7:45am. IT was: Kanlungan – Dra. Asanza (buy milk); Sierra Madre Hotel (Tapang Usa); Pranjetto (Zorb); Camp Papinpin (Erap’s mansion); Regina Rica; Carmel of Mary Star of the Sea.
This IT was formed by reading lang comments from our FB Friends: Thanks to Eduardo Gemino, whose comment about the fresh milk, started the urge to go already; Ann Cruz & Mimi Lazaro for all the tips and Len for the photos of her trips here.
Photoblog of our mini outing:
Didda's Mountain
That is his favorite sight daw so I claim it to be Didda’s Mountain!
Sierra Madre Hotel
ate at Pranjetto Hills (P140 lang yan)
stayed a bit muna (was supposed to meet Ann but wasnt able to damn the phone signal there)
went to Erap's mansion (not worth visiting just for that but a nice place to go to if you are in the area)
First Stop - Erap's Museum and Archives
Saw Len's album and John said he wanted a picture here; Uriel said magdadala daw siya ng barong, eh di siya kasama so si Abet na lang ang may picture.
Next stop: The Lagoon where Erap receives visitor
Next Stop: Erap's Private Quarters
Another stop: Fishing Village
After touring Erap’s Placewe went to see Regina Rica.
Then off we went to find a place for lunch and to buy milk.
Was sppose to eat Tapang usa at Sierra Madre Hotel but we didnt want to wake Kite & Laya ‘s soundly. So we just went to look for Kanlungan, but they have no milk daw as the cows are resting muna, maybe at the end of the month na.
Kanlungan. You have to ask where this place is, there's no sign. This is near Sierra Madre Hotel around 5mins drive.
Things we saw along the way:
falling boulders you mean! scary.
pasampay muna
I love sceneries and I wished Sierra Madre was more visible, kinda like how the scenery is on the way to Ilocos, lahat maganda! Here kasi there’s so many talahib so you cant fully appreciate the mountain ranges. Except here…
peeping tom
So I got this shot 🙂
Hay would love to have a place with such a view! Maski a friend's place para makiki punta na lang kami. (Uriel!)
We had lunch at Grilla in Antipolo and Laya thoroughly enjoyed the playground! Oh what a joy to see a child laughing and having so much fun!
ayaw umalis sa playground
We had a fun family day 🙂 Pag uwi tulog kami!
MimmaBenz.com 